Bangladesh national football team ended their 19-month winning drought when they eked out a narrow 1-0 win over Sri Lanka in the second and final FIFA Friendly match at Rajshahi on Monday. Veteran forward Zahid Hasan Ameli sent some 30, 000 fans gathered at the Muktijuddha Smriti Stadium into delirium scoring a fourth minute penalty which was enough to seal the win.The win also gave Bangladesh the series after both the sides were locked to a 1-1 draw in their first match at Jessore on Friday.
It coincided with Bangladesh cricket team’s nerve-wrecking three-wicket win over Zimbabwe in Dhaka making it a memorable day for Bangladesh’s success-hungry sports lovers.
Bangladesh, who enjoyed an overwhelming support from Rajshahi crowd, played an entertaining football in the first 15 minutes to create several spectacular scoring chances.
Ameli could have got his 18th international goal in the very first minute when his header on a Mamunul corner was cleared by Sri Lanka defender Kumara from the goal-line.
The home side earned the penalty a minute later after Lankan midfielder Roshan brought Bangladesh captain Mamunul down inside the box. Ameli sent the Sri Lanka goalkeeper to the wrong way to convert the spot kick.
Sri Lanka wasted a good chance for an equaliser in the 19th minute when forward Ishan provided a decent cut back from the right corner of the box but Nasir Chowdhury cleared the ball to keep Bangladesh’s lead intact.
Bangladesh keeper Russell Mahmud Liton was lucky not to get a marching order from the referee Mizanur Rahman as the young goalie brought down Sri Lanka midfielder Sanjeewa just outside the box at the half-hour mark.
Sri Lankan free-kick specialist Roshan, who scored the equaliser from almost similar position at Jessore three days ago, saw his free-kick from 20-yard hit the woodwork.
Skipper Mamunul was the first one to get substituted just before the end of first-half due to back muscle injury and was replaced by striker Mithun Chowdhury.
Later Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu tried with five more substitutes—Topu Barman, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Wahed Ahmed, Toklis Ahmed and Linkon—to boost the lead.
Ameli wasted a great chance in the 51st minute when his header off a Zahid Hossain’s cross went just wide.
Two minutes later another header of Ameli following a cross of Rayhan from the right-flank flew over the cross-piece.
Mithun failed to connect in a low-cross of Topu Barman in the 81st minute while Zahid’s looping shot from almost halfway forced the Sri Lanka keeper trail back to grip.
-With New Age input
